Alexis Lafreniere says deal with Rangers coming in a few weeks
The New York Rangers and Alexis Lafreniere are working on a new contract that will hopefully be settled in a few weeks.
This information is not coming from a report based on anonymous sources but directly from the horse’s mouth. While participating in the Pro-Am charity game last week, Lafreniere told La Presse’s Simon Olivier Lorange to expect it soon.
“It’s coming,” he promised. “My agent and the Rangers are in discussions, I hope it will be settled in the next few weeks.”
Alexis Lafreniere per La Presse
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On August 10, 2020, the Blueshirts won the NHL Draft Lottery and selected the consensus number one pick that year, Alexis Lafreniere.
In his final QMJHL campaign with the Rimouski Océanic, the winger notched 35 goals and 112 points in just 53 games played. Lafreniere also added 10 points (4 goals, 6 assists) in 5 matches at the 2020 WJC for Canada.
Honestly, it was a no-brainer selection regardless of how things have played out in his first three NHL seasons.
Let’s face it, the Rangers were on the rise and jumped up 11 spots to take Lafreniere after moving up to take Kaapo Kakko second overall in 2019. They weren’t your prototypical bottom-feeder that usually picks first overall.
The fact that Alexis is a left wing and the Rangers had signed Artemi Panarin in 2019 with Chris Kreider in the fold, made getting needed ice time harder. However, Lafreniere recognizes the situation and understands that his time will come.
One thing is clear, he’s very happy being a member of the New York Rangers.
“I love playing there,” Lafreniere told La Presse. “I love the city, the fans, the arena. Playing at Madison Square Garden is amazing, especially in the playoffs.”
Lafreniere has posted just 91 points in 216 regular-season games thus far in his career. As the two sides work out the particulars of a new contract, many expect it to be a bridge deal for two years with an AAV of around $2.5 million.
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